In his final visit to Germany as commander-in-chief, President Obama cozied up with Chancellor Angela Merkel, greeting her with warm kisses on both cheeks and showering her with praise as one of his longest and most trusted allies.

“It’s always a great pleasure to be with my friend and partner, Angela,” Obama gushed in Hanover, Germany. “And I’m grateful for our personal friendship.”

To kick off the two-day trip, Obama touted the benefits of free trade as “indisputable” and expressed confidence a new trans-Atlantic trade pact would be reached, despite opposition in the United States and Germany.

And he used his popularity in Germany to help out Merkel, who has been under political pressure for her handling of the Syrian refugee crisis.

“She is on the right side of history on this,” he said.

In turn, Merkel rolled out the red carpet for the US commander-in-chief for a meeting at Hanover’s Herrenhausen Palace, the newly rebuilt former summer royal residence that had been destroyed in World War II.

Barack Obama and Angela Merkel at the opening ceremony for Hannover Messe.Reuters

Later, Obama arrived at the opening ceremony of the Hanover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade fair, where he was greeted by a high-tech light show with robots, modern dance and a big screen that flashed: “Welcome Mr. President.”

The business of the foreign visit was centered on pushing the controversial trade deal, which Obama wants completed by January out of concern that political transitions in the United States and Europe could stall its progress.